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Fairfield kids waterboarded, shot with crossbows

Ten children removed from a filthy California home in late March were waterboarded and hit with crossbows, among other violent acts, Solano County prosecutors said Wednesday.

The search led to further investigation and interviews with the children that Chief Deputy District Attorney Sharon Henry told reporters caused her to be horrified.

Less than a day after prosecutors said they were still investigating Ina Rogers, a Fairfield mother of 10 who previously faced a single misdemeanor count of child abuse on Tuesday had nine new felony child abuse charges filed against her.

The authorities' involvement began March 31 when Fairfield police were called to find a missing 12-year-old child.

The parents of 10 children rescued from what California authorities call years-long abuse are both in jail after their mother was taken into custody Wednesday and her bail set at almost $500,000 to reflect the seriousness of the charges.

This is a developing story.

Her bail was raised to $495,000, while Allen remains in jail on $5.2 million bail, the network reported. All 10 children were taken into protective custody by Solano County Child Welfare Services.

Ina Rogers said all the torture allegations "will fall away" because her children had no broken bones or major scars. Denying all allegations, Jonathan Allen claimed he's a peaceful man who is the "Indiana Jones of spirituality". Solano County Deputy District Attorney Veronica Juarez wrote in a court filing, which was obtained by the Associated Press, that the children were strangled, punched and the target of constant abuse by Allen - and the children's mother did nothing to prevent it.

A Fairfield mother has been charged with nine felony counts of child abuse after 10 children were rescued from "horrible" living conditions.

Investigators say the children were tortured, burned, beaten and shot with a pellet gun while living amid squalor and abuse - all of which allegedly occurred in a bright, four-bedroom house that looks from the outside as well-kept as the rest of the houses on the Northern California cul-de-sac.

Rogers told reporters that she had one prior interaction with child welfare officials when her mother "had mentioned something" that prompted a home visit.

Allen pleaded no contest to a charge of corporal injury as part of a deal with prosecutors, and was sentenced to 180 days and three years of probation.

Juarez alleges Rogers assisted in the abuse and "dissuaded the children" from reporting their injuries, which included broken arms. Bail for a California mother of 10 children who officials say suffered long-term abuse was set at almost $500,000 after the judge said she remains a danger to the kids. Allen is the father to the children, who range in age from a few months to 12 years old.

"I love my children with all my heart", Allen said through tears, dressed in striped jailhouse-issued clothing.

Rogers said she homeschooled the children, but there is no record she registered with the state as required by law.

In the six weeks since that arrest, police said, authorities have interviewed the eight older children and learned more disturbing details about their lives. She was allowed to keep the children at that time. "Animal and human feces and a large amount of debris making areas of the house unpassable", Hurlbut said.